Georgian president vetoes ‘foreign influence’ law

The law would require media and non-governmental organisations to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. Critics of the bill say it closely resembles legislation used by the Kremlin to silence opponents and that it will obstruct Georgia’s efforts to join the EU.to back the adoption of the “foreign influence” law after 30 days of protests by hundreds of thousands of people in Tbilisi.

The president, Salome Zourabichvili, who is increasingly at odds with Georgia’s ruling party, said on Saturday that the law contradicted Georgia’s constitution and “all European standards”, and added that it “must be abolished”. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, has a majority sufficient to override Zourabichvili’s veto and is widely expected to do so in the coming days.

The Georgian government insists the law is intended to promote transparency and curb what it deems harmful foreign influence in the country of 3.7 million people.

Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Georgian lawmakers approve a divisive foreign influence bill that has sparked weeks of protestsGeorgian lawmakers have approved a "foreign influence" bill that sparked weeks of mass protests, with critics seeing it as a Russian-style threat to free speech.
Source: 9NewsAUS - 🏆 10. / 72 Read more »

Georgian police fire teargas as huge ‘foreign agents’ bill protests rock TbilisiMasked police also used water cannon and stun grenades against rally protesting over legislation viewed as authoritarian and Russian-inspired
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

Teargas and stun grenades used against Georgian protesters opposing ‘foreign agents’ billPolice launch violent crackdown on demonstration against bill that pro-Moscow government is trying to pass
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

Georgia president to hold talks with European ministers about ‘how to save country’ after mass protestsSalome Zourabichvili, a critic of Georgia’s government, is to meet European politicians after controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill sparks huge demonstrations
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

Donald Trump, Joe Biden: America’s Superman foreign policy flies againThe hard realism of Asian allies about America’s direction must jostle with the return of uncompromising American unilateralism.
Source: FinancialReview - 🏆 2. / 90 Read more »

Israel’s foreign minister says Erdoğan ‘should be ashamed’ of meeting with Hamas chiefIsrael Katz criticises Turkish president over discussion with Ismail Haniyeh about Gaza attacks
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »